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bird-of-paradise

noun

Definition of bird-of-paradise

:an ornamental plant (Strelitzia reginae of the family Strelitziaceae) native to southern Africa that has scapes terminating in a horizontal bract from which emerges an upright flower having three orange or yellow sepals and three irregular blue petals

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First Known Use of bird-of-paradise

circa 1884

bird of paradise

Definition of bird of paradise

:any of numerous brilliantly colored plumed oscine birds (family Paradisaeidae) chiefly of New Guinea and neighboring islands

First Known Use of bird of paradise

1595

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